Technology has become a normal part of day-to-day life. While it can be a helpful tool, unmonitored access to the Internet and social media can lead your child down inappropriate paths. We cannot entirely separate children from technology, but we can guide them towards healthy, productive usage. St Charles, a Catholic school in Orlando, values cultivating students to be individuals who are able to take responsibility for themselves—including their Internet activities. We recommend these few tips for teaching your child how to use his or her technology responsibly.
Limit Screen Time
Encourage your preteen to be respectful to those around him or her, and let him or her know the importance of spending quality time with his or her friends and family without being focused on a screen. Put away the phones during mealtimes and encourage discussion instead. It may also be beneficial to limit the amount of time your child is allowed to be online, and save that allotted screen time for after his or her homework and chores have been completed.
Friend Them on Social Media
If your preteen is interested in creating a Facebook account, or any other social media website, friend him or her on that site. By friending your child on social media, you will be able to monitor him or her without crossing the line into controlling. It’s not necessary to comment on everything your child posts, but your presence will help guide him or her away from inappropriate behavior.
Encourage Proper Online Behavior
It’s easy to be a passive observer of online content. However, it’s not necessary to be. The Internet allows plenty of avenues for your preteen to be an active creator of his or her own content. Encourage your child to create his or her own thoughtful posts and use technology as a creative outlet. Also, teach your child how to search for wholesome content and safe apps. A parental filter can be a useful guide, but take the time to offer your own guidance.
Lead by Example
Your preteen still looks to you for guidance. Let him or her know what a healthy relationship with technology looks like by being an example. If you want your child to put the phone down during dinner, then don’t bring your phone to the table. If you want your child to be productive contributors instead of passive observers, then find ways to be one yourself. This extra step will allow your child to observe the benefits of properly using technology.
Teaching your preteen how to use technology can be difficult, but with some time, patience, and guidance, you can help him or her form healthy habits. The education that children receive from a Catholic school in Orlando, such as St. Charles, can also help them learn respectful, Christ-like behavior that they carry with them online. Please read our About Us page to see the values we offer our students to help them grow into quality individuals.
